The Iron Realm (The Iron Soul Book 1)

by J. M. Briggs

  “Merlin and I will check on this boy,” Morgana told her firmly, “Do not speak with him about this. There are other possible explanations besides this boy being a mage.”

  “Like what?” Alex asked before she thought better of it. She swallowed when Morgana raised her eyebrow again, but then the professor chuckled slightly.

  “Unless you wish for another two hour lecture then I suggest you leave it at that. We will check on it, but I do not expect the boy to be a mage. We have already scryed the area.”

  “Scryed?” Alex repeated, “Like using magic with a bowl of water to see other things?”

  Smiling softly now, Morgana nodded and added, “That is one method, though Merlin and I are a touch old fashioned and use polished bronze disks. That was the scrying method of our people.” Morgana made a show of looking over at the clock and then back at Alex, “Surely you have homework to finish.”

  “Yes ma'am,” Alex agreed with a nod, recognizing that a dismissal when she heard one. Straightening her bag, she stepped out into the hallway to find the others waiting for her. She smiled in gratitude, Alex joined them in taking the elevator up to the ground floor and heading for their dorms in companionable, exhausted silence.

  17

  Circles of Friends

  Humming softly, Alex tapped her foot to the beat of the music playing through her ear buds. In front of her on the laptop screen was a word document with only a few lines of text and several bullet points. Alex huffed and leaned forward, resting her elbow on the edge of her desk as she reread the start of her essay about Paradise Lost. She had the basic points down, but absolutely no motivation to sit still and write. Nibbling on her lip, Alex toyed with the tips of her damp hair. She glanced out the window at the snow covered lawn where a few students were taking advantage of the sunny Saturday morning to build something. It didn't resemble a snowman yet and with it being college kids Alex wasn't certain it ever would.

  The door of the dorm room banged open and Jenny flinched at the noise in the doorway. Turning to face her roommate, Alex watched Jenny duck inside their room in her robe with a towel wrapped around her head. Jenny put her things away and snatched up her clothes to get ready for the day. Alex looked back at the screen and moved the cursor down to one of the bullet points to elaborate the short statement into a full sentence. It helped a little and she was able to add on another two sentences before the motivation vanished once again.

  “That doesn't look like it's going well,” Jenny observed casually.

  Taking out her ear buds, Alex shifted in her chair to face Jenny who was pulling on a pair of long black boots over her blue jeans. As usual Jenny already looked damn near perfect and hadn't even put on her makeup yet. Despite liking her roommate and being her friend, Alex did find it a little annoying.

  “It's not,” Alex admitted, “And it's due Monday first thing.”

  “It'll be fine,” Jenny assured her with a shrug as she stood up and went to her dresser. “What's it for?”

  “Paradise Lost for literature class,” Alex told her, standing up from her desk and moving to the bed. Stretching out, she looked over at Jenny and watched her roommate put on her makeup. “So what have you got planned for the day?”

  “Nothing actually,” Jenny replied with a slight sigh. “Breakfast with the boys, but they have practice until this afternoon.”

  “How about we do something then?” Alex offered, “I've got nothing other than some homework today.”

  “Really?” Jenny questioned, turning to Alex with a raise eyebrow. “Nothing at all?”

  “Nothing,” Alex replied with a small frown at the doubtful tone. “Why?”

  Jenny shrugged, showing a little embarrassment at Alex's reaction. She spoke as she turned her attention back to the mirror. “It's just that the last time we spent any real time together was Halloween and that was two weeks ago. You've missed lunch with us four times in the last two weeks and skipped out on dinner twice this week alone.”

  “I've just been busy,” Alex offered, ducking her head slightly and giving a small shrug. “I've got fencing and study sessions, but soccer will be over after tomorrow's game.” She reached for Galahad and squeezed him softly. “I'm just figuring out my schedule.”

  “I know…” Jenny shrugged uncomfortably, “It's just you've got study sessions Monday and Thursdays, fencing on Sundays and Wednesdays and soccer on Sundays.” I feel like I never see you anymore,” Jenny added turning back to Alex. Then Jenny shook her head and gave a small forced laugh, “Sorry honey, I guess I've just been missing girl time. I love the boys and I don't mean to be clingy.”

  Jenny's tone was light hearted, but Alex still felt a stab of guilt. “I'm sorry,” Alex assured her, “I don't mean to keep bailing on you and the guys, things are just in an adjustment phase.”

  “Did you blow midterms?” Jenny asked, tilting her head slightly with a concerned expression taking over her face. “Is that why the sudden study sessions?”

  “I didn't blow them,” Alex answered quickly, “But I didn't do great… Anyway, how about you and I do something this morning after breakfast and before the game. Go shopping or see if there are any good movies in town,” Alex proposed.

  A wide grin lit up Jenny's face and her roommate glanced over Alex's fuzzy slippers, sweatpants and old Disney t-shirt. “Sounds like a plan, but you'd better clean up first.”

  Rolling her eyes, Alex made a show of huffing as she released Galahad and reached across the bed to open her dresser. The sight of Jenny's smile made her feel a bit better, but she found herself making a promise to make sure she set aside time for Jenny. After all, her roommate had been her friend since she arrived and had made an effort to include her socially. Just because she was becoming friendly with Aiden, Nicki and Bran and was taking magic lessons didn't mean she had to give Jenny up as a friend. As she brushed her hair, Alex smiled at the thought that maybe magic was an even better reason to have a least a few normal people in her life.

  They met the boys for a quick breakfast before they vanished off to the land of football, which despite Alex religiously watching the games with Jenny she still didn't understand beyond the basics of offense and defense. Jenny had informed them all the plan was to meet up at Bookend Coffee before lunch and a movie once practice was over. Arthur gave Jenny an amused look at her decision, but didn't argue.

  Jenny's enthusiasm didn't fade even as they climbed out of Jenny's red car and into the chilly air of downtown Ravenslake. Despite it not being Thanksgiving yet, there were clear signs of Christmas preparation in the storefronts and along the street. A few of the street lights already had strings of lamps hanging between them and the jewelry store across the street already had garlands lining the interior of the windows, framing the display of rings and necklaces.

  Grabbing Alex's hand, Jenny pulled her into the newest shop, a small boutique with a sign made of twisting letters that Alex could barely read. She smiled at Jenny's cheerfulness and did her best to keep up with the shorter girl as she stalked through the shop like a lioness on the prowl.

  Over the course of the next two hours Alex learned a great deal about Jenny that she hadn't properly realized before. Jenny loved wearing bright colors in the summer, but favored darker jewel tones in the winter. She preferred silver over gold unless it was white gold. At the main street candy shop, Alex learned that Jenny was allergic to peanuts and strawberries, but adored white chocolate. Their last shopping stop of the day before heading back towards campus was the Book Nook which Alex recalled as she stepped inside was the shop that Aiden's family owned.

  For a moment she was back in her Connection vision with Aiden as the scent of books enveloped her along with a hint of old leather. Looking around, Alex noted the spiral stairs near the door that wound themselves up to the second floor which looked over the main entrance. All the walls were tightly packed with dark wooden bookshelves that reached the ceiling with a rolling ladder track curving around the square room. A small side archway
led into another small room filled with shelves and an elevator was tucked into the back. Metal plates were fixed to the various shelves to mark them and wooden signs hung from beams in the ceiling declaring each section. The entire place seemed steeped in the scent of books and the sense that it had been here a long time.

  Shaking herself back to the present, Alex followed Jenny up to the counter and smiled as her friend inquired about romance. An older woman with light brown hair with hints of gray in it pointed Jenny towards the archway into the side room. Alex's eyes were drawn to a metal plague behind the woman on the wall with the Book Nook's name and the year 1921.

  “Can I help you?” the woman asked Alex, startling her slightly.

  “Is this store really that old?” Alex questioned, pointing to the sign.

  “Yes it is,” the woman replied with a wide smile. “My grandfather founded it when he moved into the area in the 20s. The newest thing here other than books is the elevator we put in ten years ago to keep the second floor open. “

  “Oh, then you're Aiden's mother,” Alex realized with a small smile.

  “Yes I am,” the woman told her before tilting her head and smiling. “I'm Shannon and you must be… Alex isn't it?”

  “Yeah,” Alex replied a bit nervously, but the woman just smiled warmly.

  “Aiden has mentioned you and so has my husband since you're in his fencing club. He says that you're got a lot of potential and determination.”

  “Thank you,” Alex answered, not sure what else to say. “It was nice to meet you,” she added before heading off to search through the shop.

  The second floor was much smaller, Alex discovered upon climbing the wooden spiral stairs with roughly half the floor blocked by a wall with a locked wooden door. A sign marked it for staff use only and Alex turned around to look out over the open space to the first floor. An iron wrought chandelier hung over the entrance and from her vantage point Alex could study the sloping metal that twisted into curved designs holding the light bulbs. She wondered if Aiden looked at it differently now before she turned her attention to the nearest bookshelf where mythology and religious texts were displayed. Pausing, Alex considered the bookshelf carefully. She'd wandered upstairs to look around rather than looking through the fiction and literature section and now had a moment of surprise at her own course of action.

  Her eyes were drawn to a paperback book with a pale cover and green lettering styled like old medieval letters that read: Faery Mythology. Alex pulled the book off the shelf and studied the cover before opening the book to a random page. It was a story about a knight being taken by the Fae and the actions of his sweetheart to save him while the Fae rode on a procession one night. Flipping open to another section, Alex was confronted with an image of a tiny creature with claws, sharp teeth and wings. Turning to the index in the back, she read through the entries that listed various stories from around the world that related to faeries. Closing the book, Alex headed for the staircase, trying not to overthink the purchase, but unable to shake the sense that it was important to get it.

  Jenny was already at the checkout and texting on her phone while Shannon checked her out, three books stacked in front of her on the counter. Just as she reached the counter, Shannon was returning Jenny's card and slipping the books into a small bag.

  “Hi Alex,” Jenny greeted when Alex stepped up next to her and placed her own book on the counter. “The guys are done with practice and heading out to Bookend.” Without looking at Alex, Jenny put her phone away and slipped the bag of books into one of her larger bags.

  Shannon picked up Alex's book to scan it and blinked in surprise before looking at Alex. “Do you kids have a project?” she asked, “Nicki just brought this book.”

  “No project,” Alex told her quickly, “Nicki mentioned it and it sounded interesting.”

  “Well good timing,” Shannon replied as she rang up the sale, “We just got this in with Thursday’s shipment to replace the one Nicki bought.”

  “Lucky me,” Alex forced as she pulled out a twenty to pay for the book.

  She accepted her change and slipped the book into her one bag. Giving Shannon a quick wave and smile, Alex moved quickly to the doorway where Jenny was waiting for her. As they stepped outside, Jenny shuddered at the sudden temperature drop.

  “Coffee,” Jenny muttered, unlocking her car, “Need coffee.”

  Chuckling, Alex climbed into the passenger seat and put her bags in the back with Jenny's as her roommate shivered and started the car.

  “I thought San Francisco got snow?” Alex remarked.

  “We do, just not this much,” Jenny growled before pulling out into traffic. Alex bit her lip to keep from laughing at Jenny's expression.

  They found a parking spot in the conveniently located campus parking lot just down the street from Bookend Coffee, but Jenny shivered all the way up 7th Street. Arthur and Lance were both standing out on the sidewalk, chatting with smiles and seemingly unaffected the snow. Alex supposed after running around outside in the snow for a practice, a few minutes wouldn't bother them.

  “Sweetie!” Jenny called as she carefully rushed up the sidewalk.

  Arthur grinned and slung and arm around her, pulling her close and giving her a quick kiss. Alex averted her eyes quickly to Lance and blinked at the strange expression on his face, but it was gone a moment later as he nodded in greeting.

  “How was practice?” Jenny asked, turning her eyes towards Lance with a wide smile.

  “It was good,” Arthur told her with a shrug before gesturing to the doorway. “Shall we?”

  “Goodness yes,” Jenny cheered as she moved for the door.

  It opened outward and Jenny had to jump back to avoid being hit as another group came out of the coffee shop. Aiden barely managed to keep his coffee in its take out container from spilling all over Jenny as he came to a sudden stop. Behind him, Nicki and Bran looked around him to see what the holdup was. Looking up, Aiden smiled as he saw Alex and stepped out of the way and onto the street. Nicki and Bran stepped out beside him, each of them carrying their own cup of coffee.

  “Hi Alex,” Nicki greeted with a smile before turning her eyes to the people with Alex.

  “Guys,” Alex said quickly, giving her roommate a quick glance. “This is Aiden Bosco, Nicki Russell and Bran Fisher. My study group.” Alex gave the others a stern look when Jenny looked back at them and stressed the last bit as she pointed to each of them in turn. She gestured to those around her one by one, “This is Arthur Pendred, Lance Taylor and my roommate Jenny Sanchez.”

  Nicki grinned, shifted her coffee to her left hand and held out a gloved hand to Jenny who took it with a wide smile. Alex risked a glance at Arthur to see him watching Aiden with a hint of suspicion, clearly remembering when Aiden had made her cry. She smiled to herself, giddy that Arthur remembered.

  “It's so nice to meet you Jenny,” Nicki greeted with a quick glance over Alex's roommate that made Alex chuckle softly. Jenny missed the meaning of the look and returned the handshake and smile.

  “It's nice to meet you,” she said pleasantly as she waved in greeting to Bran and Aiden.

  Alex watched carefully as Arthur greeted them all and shook hands with Aiden and gave Bran a friendly nod for any sign of a connection forming. There was nothing, none of the mages showed any reaction to Arthur, not even with physical contact. Her good mood faded as a sense of unease crept up on her. Was there something off with his magic or with hers? Was she wrong about him? Instead of dwelling on the question of why only she felt any magic from Arthur, Alex forced herself to focus back in on the introductions taking place around her.

  “So,” Jenny asked, looking at Aiden and Jenny, “How did midterms in Cornwall's class go for you?” she asked politely.

  “Good,” Nicki told Jenny cheerfully, “I love history and while she's intense I enjoy her teaching of lesser known aspects of history.”

  “Our tests went fine,” Aiden assured Jenny, seemingly amused by Nicki
's giddiness. “But the study group is helping, especially with Alex and my assignments from physics lab.”

  Alex gave Aiden a grateful smiled over Jenny's shoulder before his phone beeped. “Excuse us,” Aiden told Jenny. “I'm afraid we've got a game that about to start.” Aiden looked at Alex and grinned, “You could join us.”

  “What game?” Jenny asked him curiously with a small tilt of her head.

  “Tabletop RPG,” Aiden informed her with a small smirk already pulling at the corners of his mouth, already confident of the reaction he was going to get.

  “That sounds fun…” Jenny answered quickly, “But we have plans.”

  “Well have a great afternoon, it was nice to meet all of you” Aiden replied with a nod to Arthur who was still watching him and a smile to Alex. “See you at fencing club.”